Product blender and dispenser

ABSTRACT

A command module, draw switch, blending and dispensing assembly, and multiple ingredient storage and delivery modules are added to a conventional milk shake freezer and dispensing machine. A selector panel is provided to enable the operator to dispense a shake-like product according to a customer flavor or mix order, upon raising the standard draw handle on the original dispenser head of the conventional machine. The blending and dispensing assembly includes a high speed auger with backflow inducers for blending and moving the base and ingredient product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to dispensing apparatus for flavoredfood products, and more particularly to a mix of a relatively thickflowable base blended with one or more additional ingredients to providea dispensed product having desired color, flavor, taste, aroma and/ortexture according to selectable menus.

2. Description of Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,520 issued to me on Dec. 22, 1988 disclosed a devicefor use with conventional dispensing machines to add flavor, color, anda decorative feature to the frozen food being dispensed such as asoft-serve type of ice cream. Prior to dispensing the ice cream basemix, the person operating the machine selects one of eight flavors byoperating a flavor selector switch. Then, upon pulling the dischargevalve operator lever, the ice cream mix with selected syrup is deliveredinto a cup or cone as desired by the customer. A change of syrup for thenext dispensing event is accomplished by operating a switch associatedwith the different syrup to be dispensed. While this patented device iseffective for placement of a selected syrup in and on a frozenconfection, it is also desirable to be able to blend flavors into aconfection base.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,470 to Fox et al. discloses a device using blades 33to whip into foam, a concentrate and diluent, for a dispensed beverage.The Giannella et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,759 discloses a multipledispensing head for attachment to milk shake freezer machines instead ofa conventional dispenser head, and provides for injection under pressureof an unflavored base such as milk shake mix and selected flavor syruptogether into a premix chamber and then moved to a chamber where theyare to be thoroughly mixed by motorized blades and forced downwardthrough a dispensing nozzle into a serving container. The Seymour U.S.Pat. No. 4,881,663 discloses a soft ice cream dispensing apparatushaving a multi-channel pump to direct a selected syrup or selectedcombination of syrups from reservoirs to a syrup nozzle head from whicha plurality of nipples extend into the flow of soft ice cream. Theoperator may choose to dispense pure unvariegated soft ice cream orselect any one of a plurality of different syrups to be introduced intothe ice cream as it is dispensed. The Miller et al. U.S. Pat. No.5,778,761 provides apparatus for dispensing pre-packaged neutralflavored mix stored within a serving cup, maintaining it at apre-selected temperature so that syrups of one or more flavors can beadded into the serving cup and mixed in the cup at the point of use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus and amethod which, by simply attaching the apparatus to a standard,commercially available, confection freezing and dispensing machine, isuseful for blending ingredients according to various recipes into aconfection base, to produce and dispense the desired product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a typical embodiment of the present invention, apparatusare provided for attachment to the dispensing head of a conventionalmachine for receiving a semi-liquid flowable base mix, and easilyselecting and introducing one or more ingredients, and thoroughlyblending such ingredients into the base mix to provide some feature orfeatures detectable by the senses, such as color, flavor, aroma, tasteor texture desired in the product dispensed into a serving container.Another aspect of the invention is to establish a limited back flow ofthe base material and injected ingredient/s during movement from themachine dispenser head to the apparatus dispensing outlet for thoroughblending of the base material and selected ingredients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus capable of providing adispensed product incorporating any one or combination of 32 differentingredients.

FIG. 2 is a section through the dispensing head assembly.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the blending auger of the assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electrical and ingredient feed system.

FIG. 5 is a view of the dispenser operating panel according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view of a multi ingredient blend programming panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 4, a standard, commercially availableconfection freezer and dispenser assembly 11 is shown. This assembly 11is normally mounted on a stand, cabinet or counter and has a tray on thefront near the bottom and which receives a serving cup under thedispensing head of the freezer assembly. According to the illustratedembodiment of the invention, a command module 1, draw switch 3, blendingand dispensing assembly 11A, and ingredient storage and delivery module12 are added to the conventional assembly 11. The standard draw handle 2is associated with the draw switch. The assembly 11A is mounted to thestandard freezer dispensing outlet and has a blending chamber 5 in it, ablending auger, auger drive motor 6 and a discharge outlet 7 to dispensethe desired product into the serving cup when the handle 2 is raised todraw base material from the freezer.

The ingredient storage and delivery module 12 is coupled to the freezer11 in several ways. It includes an ingredient supply labeled as “syrupsupply” in FIG. 4 and which typically comprises eight containers 9containing different ingredients. Tubes such as 9T have quick-connectfittings for connection to containers 9, and the other ends of the tubesare connected to pumps P1 through P8 for withdrawing ingredients fromthe containers 9 and pumping them into the blender chamber 5 of theblending assembly 11A. The module 12 also includes themicroprocessor-based controller 4 having a power cable output 13containing nine pairs of electrical conductors, eight separate pairsbeing connected separately to pumps P1-P8 and one pair being coupled tothe sanitizer pump 14. The unit 12 also contains a supply of sanitizingsolution at 16. One outlet conduit 17 from container 16 leads to theintake side of the sanitizer pump 14. Another outlet line 18 from thesanitizer supply 16 is branched at eight locations with tubes 19 havingquick-connects 10 for connection individually to the inlet of pumpsP1-P8 for sanitizing the pumps and discharge lines from them through theblender chamber 5 and outlet 7, when desired. Similarly, a dischargeline 21 is connected from the sanitizer pump 14 to the blending anddispensing assembly 11A and thereby through the blending chamber 5 anddischarge outlet 7 for sanitizing these components, when desired.

There is a command cable 22 from the command module to themicroprocessor controller 4 and a power cable 23 from the controller tothe blender motor 6. A power input cable 24 is provided for thecontroller 4.

Now referring specifically to FIG. 2, the freezer outlet 26 contains avalve plunger 27 which, when raised, enables discharge of a basematerial mix from conventional storage in the freezer 11 downwardthrough the outlet 26. The blending and dispensing assembly 11A includesthe outlet adapter portion 28 which snaps onto the lower end of thestandard freezer outlet 26, with the internally directed circumferentialridge of the adapter 28 being received in an external circumferentialgroove in the freezer outlet 26. The adapter 28 may be provided with aflow choke 29 in passageway 31. The blender housing 32 may be integralwith or a separate piece clamped and sealed (as shown) and has theblending chamber 5 therein. The blender drive motor 6 has the housingthereof fastened by screws such as at 33 to the blender body. Thehousing 32 also has a right hand end opening receiving a manifold 34which includes a plurality of duck-bill valves 36 therein for each ofthe ingredient supply lines such as 20, with the assembly having a snaplock fitting receiver 37 for reception of the supply line fitting 38 toconnect and seal the passageways from lines 20 through the one-wayvalves 36 into the manifold and through passageways such as 39 thereinand blender housing ports such as 41 into the blending chamber 5.

The blender motor 6 drives a blending member which is unique in severalrespects. First of all, it moves the base material flowing from thefreezer outlet 26 through the blender chamber toward the outlet 7. Butit moves the material in a somewhat inefficient way, permitting somebackward flow of some material as the material is moved from the chamber31 to the outlet 7. In the illustrated example movement is accomplishedby using an auger 42 in the form of a screw. In the illustrated examplethis screw has only one thread or flight and it is interrupted byradially outwardly opening slots 46 located every 90 degrees around thelongitudinal axis 43 of the auger. One end of the auger is splined tothe motor shaft and the other end is received and freely rotatable on alocator axle 44 fixed in the wall of the blender housing. The backflowis caused by the restriction to flow of medium from the blending ormixing chamber 5 outlet, causing back pressure against rotation of theauger. The back pressure causes backflow of medium through the openingsin the auger flighting. The backflow of the medium causes the medium toremain in the mixing chamber 5 longer, allowing the turbulence of thehigh speed rotation (3500-6000, preferably about 4000-5700, rpm) of theauger to blend the ingredients. When attached to a shake machine such asTaylor Model #430, the blending assembly auger may be about one inchlong and {fraction (15/16)}^(th) inches in diameter, with a helicalflight lead of about ⅜ inch. The slot width may be about 0.250 inch anddepth from periphery to slot bottom of about 0.300 inch. The auger maybe rotated at about 4000 rpm with a 0.500 inch inside diameter of outlet7. This is just an example believed to produce a product movementefficiency of about 65% with a backflow of about 35%. For a base ofgreater viscosity than shake mix, such as soft serve ice cream mix, agreater slot width and rotational speed may be needed to get suitableblending of low-viscosity ingredients in the base.

The base and blending ingredient back flow is provided by the blendingslots 46 in the auger screw thread as the motor rotates the auger.Arrangements other than a helical thread with slots may also be used,the point being to enable suitable back flow of the base being blendedwith one or more ingredients introduced through the valves 36.

To facilitate flow of blended product from the outlet 7 after the drawhandle is lowered, a one-way valve 47 is provided in the blender body 32to admit air to the passageway above the blending chamber 5 but, ofcourse, prevent any base mix from a discharged at that location.

OPERATION

In operation of the invention, and referring to FIG. 5 along with thepreviously mentioned figures, the procedure is as follows:

1. The operator selects the desired flavor from the number (1-8) on thecommand module (1).

2. The draw valve of the freezer is opened by rotating the draw handle(2) from left to right, causing the draw valve plunger 27 to rise.

3. As the freezer draw valve plunger rises, frozen mix is forced fromthe freezer into the blender chamber (5). Concurrently, the draw switchlever (3) is forced upward, closing the switch and completing thecircuit to the microprocessor (4). The flavor selection command is thusforwarded to the microprocessor and the selected corresponding syruppump (P1-P8) begins to rotate, pulling syrup from the syrup supply andforcing it into the blending chamber (5).

4. At the same time that the draw valve plunger rises, allowing thefrozen mix into the blender chamber, the selected syrup also is beingforced into the blender chamber. The blender motor (6) also begins torotate the blending auger 42, causing the frozen mix and the syrup tothoroughly mix together.

5. The flavored mix is then forced out of the blender opening (7) intothe serving cup.

6. When the draw is completed, the operator rotates the draw handle (2)back to the left, causing the draw valve plunger to lower, stopping theflow of frozen mix into the blending chamber (5).

7. As the plunger lowers, the draw switch lever lowers, opening theswitch circuit and causing the syrup pump (P1-P8) to cease operating,stopping the flow of syrup into the blending chamber (5).

8. Also, when the draw switch is opened, the blender motor continues tooperate for 2 seconds and then ceases to operate. The product drawoperation is now complete.

The above steps may be repeated for as many additional servings as aredesired, changing the ingredient selector for each subsequent draw,according to the desires of the customers served.

When the operator wishes to flush or rinse out the blender chamber withsanitizer solution to clean and sanitize the blender, he or she wouldperform the following functions:

1. The operator would touch the ‘Rotor Flush’ key on the command module(1).

2. The sanitizer pump 14 (sp) would begin to rotate, pulling thesanitizer solution from the sanitizer supply 16 and forcing it into theblender chamber (5).

3. At the same time, the blender motor (6) begins to rotate the blendingauger, causing turbulence in the blending chamber, cleaning andsanitizing all the surfaces in the blending chamber.

4. After 3 seconds, the sanitizer pump 14 (sp) ceases to rotate,automatically stopping the flow of sanitizer into the blending chamber.

5. The blender motor (6) continues to operate for 2 seconds after thesanitizer pump stops.

When the operator wishes to flush or sanitize any of the eight syruppumps with sanitizer solution, he or she would perform the followingfunctions:

1. The operator first disconnects the syrup line connector (9) from thesyrup supply of the selected pump (P1-P8).

2. The operator then connects the flush line connector (10) to the syrupline connector (9) (these are quick connect/disconnect fittings).

3. On the Command Module (1), the operator selects the syrup pump (1-8)to flush and sanitize.

4. The operator then touches the ‘Pump Flush’ key on the Command Module(1).

5. The selected pump begins to rotate, pulling sanitizer solution fromthe sanitizer tank 16 and forcing it out of the mixing chamber outlet 7into a waste collection container (not shown).

6. The pump flush continues to operate for 5 minutes and thenautomatically shuts down to cease the pump flush operation. Note: Theoperator may cease this flushing operation at any time by touching the‘Off’ key).

7. The flush line connector (10) is disconnected from the syrup lineconnector (9).

8. The syrup line connector (9) is reconnected to the syrup supply.

9. To prime the sanitized pump with syrup, the operator selects thecorresponding syrup pump number (1-8) on the Command Module (1).

10. The operator then presses and holds down the ‘Prime Pump’ key on theCommand Module until all of the sanitizer solution is forced from thesyrup line and pure syrup emits from the blending chamber. The operatorthen releases the ‘Prime Pump’ key.

11. The sanitizing of one pump is now complete and the operator mayrepeat this process to sanitize other pumps.

Now, referring to FIG. 1, it can be recognized that the system describedabove may be extended to provide for more than eight ingredients. Byproviding three more units like unit 12, such as shown in FIG. 1, atotal of 32 different ingredients can be included in the mix dispensedfrom the outlet 7. It is expected that it would be a rare occurrencethat any more than four different ingredients would be needed in arecipe for a desired product to be dispensed. For preparing theequipment for quick production to order, of shake or slush-type productsaccording to various mixes of beverages, similar to mixed drinks, aprogramming module for setting up the equivalents can be arranged as inFIG. 6. Whereas the previously described module usable by the operatordoes enable the determination of how much of a syrup would be dispensedduring a single draw of the base material, the organization useful withFIG. 6 enables selection of combinations of ingredients to be blendedwith the base material according to pre-programmed recipes for thatpurpose. Such recipes might include flavors, colors, liquids, otheringredients or combinations thereof. After decision is made about whatvarious recipes for dispensed products are to be offered, the recipeswould be stored in the electronics associated with each of the units 12.For the first recipe 1, the machine set-up person/programmer would enterthe identification number for that recipe and then enter the number ofeach particular ingredient and the amount thereof and store that underthe recipe number. Then, for the next recipe, the identification ofingredients and the amount thereof would be stored under that recipenumber. The procedure would be continued with each recipe having adifferent two-digit identification number which could then be called upby the operator using the controller module such as 1 to select therecipe to be dispensed according to a customer order. If, and when, itis desired to change available recipes in the system, the machine set-upperson can do so by using the panel such as in FIG. 6 to make thedesired changes. Such an arrangement would be particularly useful in anestablishment where it is desired to formulate various cocktails in asoft-serve, slush, ice or other type of product, saving the formula andthen being able to access that formula whenever desired by the operatorentering a two-digit code and drawing the confection.

It should be recognized that while the invention has been described withreference to a shake-type base, it is also useful with other basesincluding, but not limited to, slush, ice, soft serve or other base mix,and it could be used with other ingredients blended into a different butflowable base material. One example is a warm custard or a sauce. Alsothe base material itself need not be flavored. Therefore, whilecurrently it seems likely that the base would be a shake, ice or frozenfruit base, others might very well be used as well. Various electronicand software combinations well within the skill of the art, can be usedto implement the present invention. Also, while “keypad” or “touch pad”type of signaling for selection and programming are disclosed, othersignaling means may be used. A couple of examples are light and/or voiceactivated signaling controls.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionare desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing a quantity of edibleproduct according to a recipe and comprising: signaling a menu selectiondevice to enable ingredient delivery of at least one ingredient selectedfrom a plurality of ingredient sources, according to the recipe for theproduct to be produced; initiating delivery of a base material;initiating delivery of the selected ingredient/s from said sources tomix with delivered base material; mixing said base material with saidselected ingredient/s; moving the mixture of base material and saidselected ingredient/s toward a discharge outlet; and causing back-flowin the mixture during movement of the mixture toward the outlet.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 and using an auger for mixing and for movement of themixture; and using discontinuities in flighting of the auger to enablesaid back-flow in the mixture.
 3. The method of claim 1 and integratingair in the base material while moving the mixture.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 and wherein a manual operating handle is used to substantiallysimultaneously initiate delivery of said base material and said selectedingredient/s.
 5. The method of claim 4 and wherein an auger is used tomove the mixture, and said manual operating handle is used to initiateoperation of said auger.
 6. The method of claim 5 and wherein saidhandle is used to initiate operation of said auger substantiallysimultaneously with initiation of delivery of said base material.
 7. Themethod of claim 5 and wherein: reverse operation of said handle is usedto terminate delivery of said base material and said selectedingredient's.
 8. The method of claim 7 and wherein: reverse operation ofsaid handle is used to enable termination of operation of said auger;and termination of operation of said auger is delayed a predeterminedtime after termination of delivery of said base material.
 9. The methodof claim 1 and, for production of a quantity of edible product accordingto a different recipe, signaling said menu selection device to enabledelivery of a different combination of ingredients selected from saidingredient sources according to the different recipe; initiatingdelivery of said base material; initiating delivery of selectedingredients according to the different recipe to mix with the basematerial; mixing the base material with the selected ingredients of thedifferent combination; moving the mixture of said selected ingredientsaccording to the different recipe toward said discharge outlet; andcausing back-flow in the mixture of the different recipe during movementtoward the outlet.
 10. The method of claim 1 and further comprisingusing a motorized auger in a blending chamber attached to the dispensinghead of a single-head food freezer and dispenser machine, and operatingthe auger at speeds between 3,500 and 6,000 rpm.